Eddie Wong takes over the effort to convert the immigration station - often called the Ellis Island of the West - to a place where visitors can learn about the history of immigration to the western United States.

“I’m delighted to be the new executive director, particularly since my own father passed through the immigration station as an immigrant to the United States in 1928,” said Wong, 57. “The preservation and restoration of the Angel Island Immigration Station will allow the site to take its rightful place as one of America’s most important historic landmarks.”

The barracks are undergoing a $15 million restoration and there are plans to reopen them to the public in the spring of 2009, complete with interpretive exhibits.

This isn’t huge news by any means, but we here at Left Watch always try to keep an eye on the movements of those heavily involved in the far left money machine.

Wong previously served as a media and social justice investment consultant to the Democracy Alliance, a network of progressive donors. He was also the executive director of the National Asian American Telecommunications Association from 1996 to 2006. Prior to that, he worked as the western regional director of the National Rainbow Coalition.

Jim Roth continues to lead in raising money for his bid to win a full six-year term on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, campaign reports show.

Contributors include Tim Gill, a top gay and lesbian equal rights movement fundraiser, who gave the maximum donation of $5,000.

Gill, an entrepreneur and software developer from Denver, was among those identified by state Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, as helping contribute $30 million in 2006 to local and state races to help defeat conservative candidates.

Tim GIll has been said to be “the nexus of an aggressive new force in national politics”, so his involvement in Oklahoma races has to make you wonder what his special interest is in this particular candidate.

Roth, a former Oklahoma County commissioner, raised $100,141 during the first quarter of this year, according to his campaign committee’s report filed with the state Ethics Commission. He had $112,482 at the start of the reporting period. He spent $44,298 during the reporting period from Jan. 1 through March 31, his reports show. He has $174,475 on hand.

In addition to Gill, major contributors listed on Roth’s report include Edmond attorney Reggie Whitten, Denver entrepreneur Jared Polis, and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., retiree James Stepp, $5,000 each; El Reno attorney Mark Henricksen, $3,000; and Ronald Ansin, a business executive from Harvard, Mass., $2,500.

Food for thought…